Tire-patch applier



April 21, 193l. Q E- DUNLAP 1,801,954

TIRE PATCH APPLI ER Filed Jan. 5l, 1929 y, E n

Patented Apr. 21, 1931 CLARENCE E. DUNLAP,

PATENT OFFICE OF SIOUXY CITY, IOWA TIRE-PATCH APPLIER Application led `Januaryl, 1929. Serialv No. 336,570.

My invention rela-tes to a method of, and machine for applying, tube or casing patches of the preformed type, such as is shown in my Patent N o. 1,756,183, covering a preformed patch. My method involves the use of high, uniformly applied, pressure in applying the patch.

A particular object of my invention is to M provide a machine particularly adapted to t apply the patch disclosed in said application.

Another object of my invention is to providexsuch a machine in which the pressure may be applied uniformly to the bevelled edges of the patch.

A still further object is to provide such a machine which may be operated very rapidly without losing its accuracy.

More particularly referring to the last nbn ject, it ismy purpose to providea machine including a plunger, together with means to receive and support the patch in proper position relative to the plunger, preparatory to attaching the patch toa tube.L

2E Vith these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, ar-

rangement and combination vofthe various parts of my device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in

which: Y 1 Fig. l is a side elevation ofthe machin Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same. i Fig.. 3 is a vertical, central, sectional view through the operative portions of themachine. Y Y

` Figil is a similar view showing the plunger ina slightly different position.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged- View of the end of .the plunger and supporting sleeve. Y

Fig. 6 shows a slightly modified forni of a plunger.

The' application of a preformed patch having a bevelled edge to a tube to be repaired, where it is desired to apply the patch under pressure, involvesk several problems, Y one growing out of the other; In the first place1 the most important requisite in applyingV a patch to a tube-is that the patch be securely united to the tube, particularly at its edges.

` The object of the bevelled edge is to miniinize peeling of the patch under the effects of friction between the tubes and casing and so the bevelled'` feature is very important in a patch. Due to this problem of peeling, it is most important that the. patch be securely united at its edge to the tube. l/Vhile the bevelled feature is thus very essential, it introduces the problem of properly applying pressure to the patch by means of a machine so that the edges of the patch may be securedly united.V In order to meet this problem, I have provided almachi-ne embodyinga plunger having a matrix with `a cross sectional shapev and area corresponding tothe peripheral shape of the patch, the kmatrixbei-ng dished so as to exactly fit the verticahcross sectional contour of the patch. Inthis way, pressureA may be applied to the patch over the fiat surface thereof and also to the bevelledv face up to the edgev ofthe patch.

lhe employment of this type of plunger raises the problem, however, of registering thepatch accurately with the plunger so that the pressure ofthe plunger may be properly applied. If the patchr were first adhered to the tube, it would be rather diiiicult to adj ust the tube in the machine so as to bring the plunger in exact register vwith the patch and *Il if the plunger is only slightly out of register with the patch, the pressure will be so iinproperly applied as to give very negative results.

To meet this problem, I provide means for attaching the patch tothe end of the plunger in proper registerwith the plunger, vthe patch to be carried downwardly with the plunger toward the area ofthe tube to which it is to be applied andv tobe brought into contact with the tube by the plunger.

A requirement of this device is that it be so vconstructed that it will not interfere with the application of Vpressurey to the patch by the plunger, although capable of securely holding` the patch in its proper position up to the point of contact of the patch with the tube.

In the Vaccompanying drawings, I have used the referenceV character 10 to-indicate generally the base of the machine of my invention. Cast integrally with the base is an upwardly projecting arm 11, which is extended forwardly as at 12 over the plate 13, which also is formed integrally with the base.

A vertically disposed bearing sleeve 14 is formed on the end of the arm 1Q. The bearing sleeve 14 is provided at its lower extremity with an inwardly extending collar 15, in which slides the shaft 16 of the plunger.

The head 17 of the plunger slides within the bore of the sleeve 14. A shoulder 18 is formed between the head 17 and the shaft 1G of the plunger and the spring 19 is received between the shoulder 18 and the collar 15 encircling the shaft 16. A pair of ears 2O exx tend upwardly from the ripper end of the sleeve 14 and support a pin 21, upon which is journalled a cam shaped shoe for applying ressure to the plunger. A lever 23 projects from the shoe 2Q and movement of the lever in the direction indicated by the arrow 24 brings the extended portion ot the shoe downwardly against the head 17, causing the plunger 16 to move downwardly.

The cam face oi' the shoe Q9. is divided generally into the portion 25, adapted to give rapid downward movement to the plunger and the portion 26. which is substantially on the surface of a cylinder coaxial with the pin 21, adapted to apply pressure to the plunger after it has reached a position where the patch is in contact with the tube.

The lower end of the plunger is formed as a matrix having a flat, central tace ZT to engage the flat, upper face 28 ct the patch and having the downwardly extended. dished side face 29, adapted to engage the bevelled face 30 of the patch.

It may be noted at this pointthat the patch comprises an upper vulcanized layer and a lower unvulcanized layer 31, the edge of which is cut perpendicnlarly. all as described in the co-pending application nicntioned hereinbefore.

In order to support the patch in contact with the matrix ot the plunger, fl provide a supporting sleeve 32, which i.v 'celv slidable upon the lower end of the plnn and snpported by a pin 33, the sleeve 22 being provided with vertical slots 34 (Fig. l) to allow sliding movement of the sleeve.

A collar 85 is secured to the shaft 1S and spaced above the sleeve 32 and a spring 36 received between the collar and the sleeve 32 to urge the sleeve downwardly.

In the operation of the machine, the tube 37 is extended flat over the plate 13 with the puncture 38 centered beneath the piunger. A coatingr of cement 39 applied to the surface of the tube surrounding the puncture after proper bufl'ing and cleaning of the tube and may be either lett in place, or the excess scraped ofi'. It will be understood that the use of cement does not forni a material eiement of this invention. One of the patches` is pressed upwardly into the cavity formed between the matrix of the iunger and the. sleeve 22, where it will be held by the engagement of the vertical edges of the layer ill against the inner surface of the sleeve 22.

A'lter removal of the protective covering ot the patch (not shown), which is preferably done before the patch has been secured to the plunger, the lever 3 is brought forwardly and downwardly, the tube being adjusted as the plunger descends to bring the puncture to the desired position relative to the plunger.

The lower edge of the sleeve 22 will lirst engage the tube and in so doing serve to secure the tube against further movement rela tive to the plate 13, thus assuring a direct downward pressure against the tube by the patch. As further pressure is brought aga-inst the lever 23, the plunger will continue to descend, sliding within the sleeve 32, the latter being allowed to recede relative to the plunger and compressing the spring 36 in so doing.

Thus the sleeve will be snugly retained in engagement with the tube as the plunger descends, positively preventing any side slipping of the patch relative to the plunger as pressure is brought to bear against the patch. The flat face 2T will exert pressure against the central portion of the patch and the dished face 29 will exert the same amount of pressure against the bevelled face 30 of the patch, thus securing the patch with equal pressure over its entire surface including thc extreme edge ot the patch.

A atch so applied is about eltective as a vu canized patch, all uncertainties in the method of application of the patch being entirely removed by the use of the machine. The machine is small enough so that it may be carried in a tool kit and is simple and inexpensive in construction.

There is a very material ditlerence in the result obtained by using the type of pressure disclosed in this application and the type 0f pressure which has heretofore been obtained by hand (the fingers ol. the operator). In the first place, it possible to obtain a much higher pressure by means of the machine; in the second place, the pressure is uniform over the entire surface or the patch, and in the third place, the pressure applied to the bevelled edge as well as the remainder of the patch.

@ne result of this type of pressure is that of insuring against any ot the cement being allowed to remain between the patch and the tube. The uniform high pressure will squeeze out all of the cement except that which enters the pores of the rubber and will bring the surfaces of the patch and tube into intimate contact with each other. The pressure that can be obtained with the machine disclosed, wherein the lever is about fourteen inches in length will range from 1500 to 2000 pounds per square inch. By using a longer lever, higher pressures may be obtained.

As far as I am aware', Iam the first to conceive of a machine or a high pressure process for applying a bevelled patch to a tube. It is not my intentiony to claim a machine 01 process for applying an unbevelled patch except in that feature of the machine wherein the patch is held'by the plunger prior to the application of the patch to the tube. It will be understood that this principle of securing the patch to the plunger in register with the face of the plunger is applicable also to an unbevelled patch and that the same advantages will'be derived, although to a lesser extent; that is, this feature is not as essential to a process of applying unbevelled patches as it is to the bevelled patch.

It will be understood that the plunger might be formed in two parts instead of integrally. For instance, in Fig. 6, the plunger shaft 16 is shown provided at its lower end with an enlarged head 41, which may be secured in any manner to the shaft 16, as by means of the set screw 40. The sleeve 32 is mounted on the head 41, the collar 35a is formed on the head 41, and the spring 36 is mounted between the collar 35a and sleeve 32 in the same mannery as in the other form `of my invention. Such a removable head is desirable where the machine is to be used for several sizes of patches, different sized heads beino' employed. The head shown would be particularly adaptable for use in connection with the casing patches. Y

Where the term plunger is used in the claims, it is intended to cover a plunger, whethermade integrally as in Figs. 1-5 inclusive, or in two parts, including a. removable head, as in Fig. 6.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my invention without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intenti-on to cover by my claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents, which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention: l. In a machine for applying bevelled tube or casing patches, a base including a flat plate,

a bearing supportedV by the base over said plate, a plunger having a matrix, dished to conform to the cross sectional contour of a patch, the plunger being axially slidable in said bearing, the matrix being adapted to cooperate with the plate, means to apply high pressure to said plunger, and a sleeve carried by the plunger having an interior, cross sectional shape and area such that it will snugly receive and support a patch in register with the matrix, said sleeve being capable of port a patch in register with the matrix, said means being capable of recession under pressure of the plunger against a tube supported on the plate.

3. In a machine for applying patches, a base inclu-ding a flat plate, a bearing supported by the base over said plate, a plunger,

axially'slidable in said bearing, and having a working end to cooperate with the plate, and means to support apatch against the working end face of the plunger, said means being capable of recessionnpon pressure of the plunger against a tube supported on said plate.

4. In a machine for applying patches, a base including a ilat plate, a bearing supported by the base over said plate, a plunger,

axiall slidable in said bearinv and havin@ a working en-d to cooperate with the plate, and means to support a patch against the working end face of the plunger, comprising a sleeve encircling and slidably mounted on the plunger and normally projecting be- ,1J

yond the working end to form a cavity in which the patch may be received, and means for resiliently urging the sleeve toward said normal position, said last means allowing recession of the sleeve under pressure of the plgnger against a tube supported upon the tu e.

5. In a machine for applying patches, a base including a flat plate, va bearing supported by the base over sai-d axially slidable in said bearing, and having a working end to cooperate with the plate, and means to support a patch against the working end face of the plunger, comprising a sleeve encircling and slidably mounted on the plunger and normally projecting beyond the .working end to form a cavity in which the patch may be received, a collar on the plunger and spaced from the sleeve,

and a coil spring encircling the plunger between the sleeve and collar, said coil spring allowing recession of the sleeve under pressure of the plunger against a tube supported upon the plate.

`Signed this 26th day of January, 1929, in

the county of Woodbury and State of Iowa.

CLARENCE E. DUNLAP.

plate, a plunger, .i 

